Device for coating a photographic print



Oct. 13, 1959 n. e. ASHBY ETAL 2,908,025

DEVICE FOR COATING A PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT Filed Sept. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ROBER M. ASHBY Inventor! Attorney! Oct. 13, 1959 ASHBY ETAL DEVICE FOR COATING A PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT Filed Sept. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f i h lll RQBERT M. ASHBY I Inventors United States Patent Claims priority, application Great Britain October 4, ,1956

7 Claims. (Cl. 15-118) This invention relates to a device for use in the finish ing of positive prints of the kind which are produced in a camera directly after exposure of a photo-sensitive emulsion by selective controlof the development of a negative-image in the emulsion.

In the use of such cameras it has been found to be desirable to applyto the positive print after ithas been obtained from the camera, a coating which protects it from the effects 'of-handling and abrasion. Such coating is also designed'to prevent fading of the picture. "It is desirable also that the :positive print does not come into contact with any part-of the human body before the coating is applied. -Moreover, the coating takes time to dryand during the drying process it is desirable to keep the positive print free from dustand/or abrasion.- Furthermore, since the positive material':has been held in a tight roll in the camera the :print willtend to curl when it 'is-removedfrom the camera and it isdesirableto remove this .curl,.-:for.example.by drawing the back of the print overa straight edge before,.during orafter applying the-coating.

It' is accordingly an object of the present invention to providea .device which 'en'ables these operations to be carried'out quickly and simply. i t

According to the present. invention, the device comprises two plate-like members which are hinged together and areso shaped that when in contact with :one another they define a recess adapted -toireceiv.e"the positive print and one of the members is provided at a part remote from the hinge with means :for holding a pad adapted to be moistened withthe coatingliquid whereby, as .a'print inserted-into the recess is withdrawn therefrom, its surface is held in contact with-the pad .and is thus coated with the liquid. Conveniently; 'the other .platedike member=is provided with a ridge-or like-projection inaposition where it-operatestopress-the printagainst'the-pad. This other plate-like member may also be formed, at'a point remote from the hinge, with a straight edge, preferably having a rounded contour, over which the print may be drawn as the print is pulled out of the recess whereby to remove curl. 1 7

In order'to facilitate zthe insertion-of the print-between the two-members and also .to ,prevent the print from beingtouched by the fingers, one of them may be formed in two .parts which'are hinged together and so'arranged that the inner part, -that is the part adjacent the hinge of the two members, may be closed on to the othermem berto :forma recess in which theedge of the print may be located before the outer part is closed onto theother member.

In one constructional form of the device of this invention the two plate-like members are generally rectangular in shape and may be formed of a'metal or a suitable plastic. The two members are hinged together at one of their shorter edges and'the facing surfaces are formed each with a shallow depression of a size suitable to receive the positive print. The depression in that oneof the surfaces which in use faces the sensitive surface of the print may be bounded by a slightly raised margin which engages the edge of the print and assists in preventing contact of the sensitive surface with the surface of the depression. At the edge of the members which are remote from thehinge one of the members is provided with a trough adapted to receive and hold a pad or applicator which is saturated with the coating liquid and which is normally provided with each picture roll. The corresponding part of the other member is formed with a raised ridge or projection which, when the members are closed together, assists in forcing the surface of the print into contact with the pad. The extreme edge of this other member is also suitably rounded or profiled so as to provide a straight edge over which the print may be drawn in order to remove curl.

To facilitate the introduction of the print between the two members, oneof them-is formed in two parts which are'hinged togetheron an axis parallel with the axis of the main hinge and 'suitable rneans such asspring catches or'the like are providedto hold 'the inner part, that is the part adjacent the main-hinge, in contact with the'other member before the .outer part is closed on to the other member. t The device of this invention'may also include means for storing a coated printwhile it is drying and such means may compriseathird plate-likemember which is hinged with one-of the other members and is shaped so that when closed on to :the'other member and held in position by a spring catch -.or the like, there is provided a-recess in which a printmay be'accommodated. Convlenientlyone of thetwo facing surfaces :of ithis recess is provided with projections or spikes which engage the coated surface of the print at its edges so as to hold it out of contact with the surface of the member. 1

The invention will -now.be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of apparatus when closed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of'the apparatus of Fig. l with all the hinges open;

Fig. 3 isa section along the line 33 of Fig. 1 illustrating the operation of coating a print; and

.Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 ill ustrating the operation of storing a'coated print with the padstored in its container.

Referring to the drawings, twoiplates generally denoted by'numerals 1, 2 are hinged together by hinge 3 along one of their shorter sides. Plate 1 is provided with ashallow recess 4 of such dimensions that it'will readily .ac'commodate a positive print from a camera therein. Plate 2 is similarly provided with-a shallow recess 5 which is bounded by a slightly raised margin 6. Plate .1, at the end remote fromjhinge 3 is provided with .a trough 7. A screw-threaded hole in one side of trough 7 holds a screw 9 one end of which is .rotatably mounted in a bar 10 disposed within trough 7. The other end -ofiscrew V V 3 9 terminates in a knurled knob 11. Rotation of screw 9 moves bar 10 within trough 7.

Plate 1 is provided with a projection 12 which underlies trough 7 when plates 1 and 2 are in the closed position. The edge 13 of plate 1 is rounded.

As shown in the drawings, plate 2 is formed in two parts, respectively denoted by numerals 14 and 15, WhlCl'l are hinged together at 16. Spring catches 17, 18 mounted on opposite sides of plate I serve to hold part 14 in contact with plate 1' so as to define a recess within which a photographic print may be inserted prior to processing.

A pair of leaf springs 8 onopposite sides of part of plate 1 urge it slightly upwards;this is found to be of advantage when closing the loaded apparatus and in assistingin preventing excess pressure from being applied to-the surface of photographs during treatment in the apparatus.

In the apparatus illustrated a third plate 19 is provided which is hinged to plate 1 at 20 and has an upward projection 21 along its opposite edge. The plate 19 may be held in theclosed position by means of spring catches 22, 23. Projections 24, 25 on the underside of plate 1 assist in defining a recess within which a freshly processed photographic print may be placed and viewed through a window 26 in plate 19 whilst it is drying. A plurality of spikes generally denoted by 27 engage the wet coated surface of a print and thus hold it out of contact with the surface of plate 19. V

A clip 28 mounted upon the outside of the trough 7 and a shaped supporting member 29 may be provided to hold the container 30 within which the pad or applicator 31, is kept when not in use.

To use the apparatus part 14 of plate 2 is closed, being held in the closed position by means of spring catches 17, 18. The print to be processed is inserted in the recess ing surface thereof which comprises two plate-like members hinged together along one edge, a recess formed in thus formed with the surface to be finished facing outwards. The applicator 31 is, meantime, inserted in trough 7 and .bar 10 moved forward in trough 7 until applicator 31 is tightly held in position. Part 15 of plate 2 is then closed; only a protruding end of the photographic print-carrying material can now be seen; Whilst holding part 15 tightly closed, the protruding end is pulled in a somewhat downward direction over rounded edge 13. The emergent print is coated with the material carried by the applicator 31. The treatment may be rethe facing surface of at least one of said plates and adapted to accommodate a positive photographic print prior to said treatment, a transverse arcuate ridge formed upon the facing surface of one of said plates near the edge remote from said hinge and means for holding a pad adapted to be moistened with said coating liquid in a position overlying said arcuate ridge.

3. A device for finishing a positive photographic print by the application of a coating liquid to the image-carrying surface thereof which comprises two plate-like memhens hinged together along one edge, a recessed portion formed in the face of at least one of said plates so that 'when the hinge is closed a pocket is formed between said plates, which pocket is adapted to acommodate a positive photographic print prior to. treatment, one of said platelike members being formed in' two portions which are hinged together, a transverse arcuate ridge formed upon the facing surface of one of said plates near the edge remote from said first hinge and means for holding a pad, adapted to be moistened with-said coatingliquid, carried upon the other of said plates in a position overlying said arcuate ridge. Y

4. A device for finishing a positive photographic print by the application of a coating liquid to the image-carrying surface thereof which comprises two plate-like members separably mounted in contact with each otherand so shaped that when in contact they define a recess adapted to receive a positive photographic print, one of said plate-like members being formed intwo portions which are hinged together, means for holdinga pad adapted to be moistened withsaid liquid mounted upon the facing surface of one of said plate-like members so that when a print inserted into said recess is withdrawntherefrom the image-carrying surface is held in contactwith said pad and is thus coated with liquid.

5. A device for finishing a positive photographic print by the application of avcoating liquid to the 'image carrying surface thereof whichcomprises two plate-like members hinged together along one edge, .a recess formed in peated if desired. The treated print is now ready for 1 storing. Plate 19 is opened and the print placed in between projections 24, 25 with the treated surface facing outwards. The print can then be viewed through window 26 without [fear of its surface being damaged whilst it is y sr The device of the invention enables a positive print to be coated and uncurled substantially simultaneously and in a quick and simple manner. It also enables the print to be dried in a situation substantially free from dust. The device may be made in a number of different forms and if desired may be constructed in such manner that it can be detachably secured on the back of the camera. It may also be arranged to hold the container in which the pad or applicator is housed when it is not in use.

We claim: 1 V

1. A device for finishing a positve photographic print by the application of a coating liquid to the image-carrying surface thereof which comprises two plate-like members hinged together along one edge and so shaped that when the hinge is closed and they are in contact with one another they define a recess adapted to receive a positive photographic print and one plate-like member is provided at a part remote from the hinge with means for holding a pad adaptedto be moistened with said coating liquid whereby when a print inserted intothe recess is -withdrawn therefrom'the image-carrying surface is held in contact with the pad and is thus coated with the liquid. 2. A device for finishing a positve photographic print by the application of a coating liquid to the image-carrythe facing surface of at least one of said plates and adapted to accommodate a positive photographic print prior to said treatment, a transverse arcuateridge formed upon the facing surface of one of said plates near the edge remote from said hinge, said remote'edge being formed as. an arcuate straight edge over which a print may be pulled as it is withdrawn, and means mounted upon the other of said plates for holding a pad, adapted to be moistened with said coating liquid, in a position overlying said arcuate ridge.

. 6. A device for finishing a positive photographic print by the application of a coating liquid tothe image-carrying surface thereof which comprises three plate-like members, the first and second plate-like members being hinged together along one edge by a first hinge, and the first and third plate-like members being hinged together along one edge by asecond hinge disposed upon the opposite side of the first plate-like member, the first and second platelike members being so shaped that when the first hinge is closed and the plates are in contact they define a recess adapted to receive a positive print and one of said platelike members is provided at a part remote from said first hinge with means for holding a pad adapted to be moistened with said coating liquid whereby when a print inserted into the recess is withdrawn therefrom, the image-carrying surface is held in contact with the pad and is thus' coated with the liquid and the second and third plate-lilce members being so shaped that when the second hinge is closed a recess is formed between the second and third plates in which a finished print may be stored.

7. A device for finishing a positive photographic print bythe' application of a coating liquid to the image-carry ing surf-ace thereof which comprises three plate-like mem= bers, the first and second plate-like members being hinged together along one edge by a first hinge and the first and third plate-like members being hinged together along one edge by a second hinge disposed upon the opposite side of the first plate-like, member, a recessed portion formed in the face of at least one of the first and second plates so that when said plates are closed a recess is formed therebetween adapted to accommodate a positive photographic print pr-ior to treatment, a transverse arcuate ridge formed upon the facing surface of one of said first and second plates near the edge remote firom said first hinge, means mounted upon the other of said first and 6 second plates for holding a pad, adapted to be moistened with said coating liquid, in a position overlying said arcuate ridge and the second and third plate-like members being so shaped that when the second hinge is closed 5 a recess is formed in which a finished print may be stored.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,876,744 Posgate Sept. 13, 1932 10 2,546,738 Gendernalik Mar. 27, 1951 2,819,484 Fouse Jan. 14, 1958 

